lester osgood



(No Model.)

J.- L. OSGOOD.

BIT BRAGB. No. 344,130. Patented Julie 22, 1886.

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J. LESTER OSGOOD, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SAXTON 85 OSGOOD, OF SAME PLACE.

BIT-BRAC E.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi' Let-ters Patent No. 344,130, dated June .22l 1856.

Application iiled March 15, i886. Serial No. 195,245. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beitknown that I, J. LESTER OsGooD, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie andState of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bit-Braces, of which the following is a specifica-tion.

rlhis invention relates to an improvement in that class of bit-braces which are provided with ratchet mechanism, whereby the brace can be readily adapted for use either as a right-hand brace or left-hand brace or as au ordinary brace at the desire of the operator by a simple adjustment of its parts.

The object of my invention is to constructa brace of this character which will be simple and durable and which can be produced at comparatively small expense; and the invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l 'represents a side elevation of a bit-brace provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the lower part of the brace. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in line 'x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective View ofthe sliding pawl. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a section of the pawl and ratchetwheel on an enlarged scale.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several iigures.

A represents the handle portion or sweep of the brace, and B the socket portion in which the bit is secured and which may be of any suitable construction.

C represents a cylindrical shank extending upward from the end of the socket portion B,

and D is a sleeve or cylindrical bearing turning on the shank C and secured to the lower arm ofthe sweep or handle portion A of the brace by a shank, D', formed with the bearing D.

E represents a ratchet-wheel secured to the shank C by a rivet, e, o'r any other suitable means and fitting in a mortise or recess, f, formed in the sleeve D. The wheel E is pr-ovided in its periphery with notches g, having abrupt sides, as shown.

H represents a sliding pawl arranged loosely in a mortise or recess, h, in the shank D of the sleeve Dwith its front or face side bearing against the sleeve D and engaging in one of the notches g Vof the ratchet-wheel E. rllhe front or face side oi' the pawl H is provided with two working-faces, it', each composed of a square shoulder and an inclined back, said square shoulders facing in opposite directions, so that the face t' will turn the wheel E in one direction while the face t" will turn it in an opposite direction. The shoulder t' is formed in the upper half of the pawl and the Shoulder t" in the lower half thereof. The central portion` il, of the face portion of the pawl is composed of the overlapping inner portions of the faces i i', so that when this portion of the pawl is engagedA in one of the notches or spaces of the wheel E both faces i t" will engage in the same notch, as represented in Fig..6, which prevents thepawl from sliding over the teeth ol' the wheel in either direction and compels the wheel to turn with the pawl and brace in both directions, as in an ordinary brace. The inner ends of the inclined backs of the working-faces i t" are beveledA olf, as shown in Figs. 4. and 5, whereby the pawl is enabled to facilitate thelengthwise movement of the pawl and to enable the latter to pass over the edge of a tooth more easily in enter ing a notch.

la represents notches formed in the back or rear face of the pawl and in which engage a spring-bolt, Z, whereby the pawl H is held in position lengthwise with reference to the ratchet-wheel E. A notch, k, is formed opposite each of thcinclined portions t' i and the center portion, fi, and the sides of the notches 7c are beveled or inclined, so that upon sliding the pawl back and forth lengthwise in the mortise of the shank D the bolt Z will engage itself with or disengage itself from either notch 7c, as may be desired. The bolt Z is seated in the bore of the shank D' and. held against the pawl H by a spiral spring, m, which is conlined in the bore of the shank D between the rear end of the bolt and the end of the lower arm of the brace. l

a represents a rearwardly-projecting shoulder or nose formed on the opposite ends oi' the pawl H and projecting over the edge of the mortise h in the shank D', whereby the pawl is confined and held in the mortise l1. Upon sliding the pawl H back and forth lengthwise IOC) l be engaged with one of the notches of the' 4in the mortise h, either of the inclined faces i or i or the center portion, Z2, of the pawl may ratchetwheel E, thereby adapting the brace to operate as aright-hand or left-hand ratchetbrace or to operate like an ordinary brace at the desire of the operator.

My improved brace can be cheaply constructed, and forms a strong and convenient brace.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, With the inortised shank D' and the bit-socketB, provided with a notched Wheel, E, of a sliding pawl, H, arranged in the mortise of the shank and provided on its front side with two abrupt Working-faces, fifi', having inclined backs facing in opposite directions and having their inner portions overlapping or extending past each other, whereby the middle face portion, Z2, of the pawl is composed of both Working-faces, which oppose each other and hold the Wheel E rigidly, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the bit-socket B and the notched wheel E, secured thereto, of a sliding pawl, H, arranged loosely in a mortise in the shank of the brace and provided on its front face with beveled faces fZ Z and on its opposite side with notches k, and a springbolt, Z, engaging in the notches 7c and pressing the paWl against the Wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the bit-socket B, and the notched Wheel E, secured thereto, of the sleeve D and shank D', provided with a mortise, Zz., a pawl, H, fitting loosely in the mortise of the shank and having beveled faces Z 13', notches 7c, formed in the rear side` of the pawl opposite the beveled faces fZ i', a bolt, Z, seated in the bore of the shank D', and a spring, m, bearing against the bolt Z, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 6th day of March, i

J. LESTER OSGOOD. Witnesses:

J No J. DONNER,

OscAR SCHAUB. 

